Veteran center Gomez aims to revive career with Panthers

Two-time Stanley Cup champion signs 1-year deal; has played in 941 NHL games

July 31, 2013|By Craig Davis, Sun Sentinel

With the signing Wednesday of Scott Gomez, the Panthers added a veteran center that will at least provide knowledgeable on-ice mentoring for a talented but very young cadre of forwards.

If the two-time Stanley Cup champion can regain the play-making touch that earned him two All-Star selections, most recently in 2008, Gomez could help fill the leadership void at the position left by Stephen Weiss.

Gomez, 33, signed a one-year contract reportedly worth $900,000. He has 171 goals and 701 points in 941 games with four teams over 13 seasons.

"Scott is a veteran center who adds further depth to the middle of our lineup," general manager Dale Tallon said. "He is a quick and skilled forward, with a wealth of hockey experience including two Stanley Cup titles, who will be a leader for our younger players."

San Jose coach Todd McLellan said it was like having an extra coach on the bench during Gomez's one season with the Sharks in 2013. Gomez had two goals and 13 assists in 39 games while serving mainly on the Sharks' fourth line and second power-play unit.

With the youthful Panthers, there would seem to be opportunity for a more prominent role. Only Shawn Matthias and Marcel Goc have more than one season of NHL experience on the roster of centers, which include Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau, recent first-round choice Aleksander Barkov, Nick Bjustad, Drew Shore and Quinton Howden.

In his prime, Gomez totaled 70 or more points three times, including 84 (33 goals) for New Jersey in 2005-06. His production declined during three seasons with Montreal, and after the labor lockout ended earlier this year the Canadiens opted for an amnesty buyout of the last two years of an unwieldy contract that had $10 million remaining.

After that experience and an ill-fit in San Jose, Gomez will have plenty of incentive for resurrecting his career with the Panthers.

Gomez will have immediate common ground with new teammate Huberdeau, having also won the Calder Trophy as the league's best rookie, in 2000 with New Jersey. The No. 27 overall pick by the Devils in 1998, Gomez was named the best selection at that spot in the 50 years of the NHL draft by NHL.com.

The Alaska native ranks first among active U.S.-born players in assists (530) and points (701) and second in games played (941). In 149 playoff games, Gomez has posted 101 points (29-72-101).